To grease or not to grease? Teflon female ball socket rotating mast

Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by pbmaise, May 11, 2013.

  1. pbmaise
    Joined: Jul 2010
    Posts: 115
    Likes: 5, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 80
    Location: Cebu the Philippines

    pbmaise Senior Member

    Aloha
    I'm currently in Philippines replacing my rotating mast. The previous mast did NOT have a teflon female socket. It came with a grease point.

    The new mast, a 19 meter Proctor, has a stainless steel ball and Teflon female socket. There is no grease point. This mast was once installed and I can see that the old owner greased the socket.

    My conclusion is that this was a bad idea. The grease helped attract dirt and I see a little damage to the Teflon female socket. Further, there is no way to apply new or more grease without lifting the mast off the deck a few inches.

    Therefore, my conclusion is no grease. Anyone have thoughts otherwise?
     
    pbmaise, May 11, 2013
    #1
  2. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
    Posts: 4,862
    Likes: 116, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1180
    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Dont know. Perhaps ask Proctor

    Normally you dont grease plastic bearings. Dry teflon spray is what is recommended for delrin ball bearings.
     
    michael pierzga, May 11, 2013
    #2
  3. Eric Sponberg
    Joined: Dec 2001
    Posts: 2,021
    Likes: 248, Points: 73, Legacy Rep: 2917
    Location: On board Corroboree

    Eric Sponberg Senior Member

    No grease.

    Eric
     
    Eric Sponberg, May 12, 2013
    #3
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